The Allahabad High Court has denied anticipatory bail to school teacher Tripti Tyagi, accused of instructing her students to slap a Muslim classmate, sparking national outrage. The charges include causing hurt and provoking religious feelings. Despite prior rejection by a lower court, the high court upheld the ruling, emphasizing accountability in educational environments and children’s protection.
Muzaffarnagar: The Allahabad High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of a school teacher accused of instructing Class 2 students to slap their Muslim classmate, an incident that triggered widespread condemnation last year. The bench, comprising Justice Deepak Verma, directed the teacher to surrender within two weeks and apply for regular bail, the victim’s lawyer, Kamran Zaidi, confirmed.
“The lower court had already rejected the anticipatory bail plea on October 16. Now, the high court has upheld that decision, rejecting the teacher’s plea on November 23,”
Zaidi stated.
The teacher, Tripti Tyagi, faces multiple charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings). Additionally, charges under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act have also been invoked, the prosecution revealed.
The incident, which occurred in Khubbapur village, came to light in August 2023 when a video surfaced showing Tyagi instructing students to slap their Muslim classmate while making a communal remark. This video sparked outrage across the country, prompting immediate police action and a notice to the school from the Uttar Pradesh education department.
Muzaffarnagar police subsequently registered a case against Tyagi, and a charge sheet was filed under relevant sections of the IPC and Juvenile Justice Act.
The Supreme Court has also expressed dissatisfaction over the handling of the case by the Uttar Pradesh state government. On November 10, 2023, the apex court criticized the government for failing to comply with its order to arrange counselling for the victimized child.
On January 12, 2024, a bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan noted the state’s inaction following the incident. “The state should have been concerned about the manner in which the incident had happened,” the bench observed, emphasizing the need for immediate remedial measures.
The case remains a grim reminder of the importance of safeguarding children from communal biases and ensuring accountability in educational spaces. With the Allahabad High Court rejecting Tyagi’s anticipatory bail, the legal proceedings are set to move forward, underlining the severity of the charges against her.
This decision reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to addressing communal incidents and protecting the rights of vulnerable individuals, especially children, in sensitive cases.
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE